Ayuthaya,
Thailand
Sunday, January 27, 2008
We just happened to be in town when a very important ceremony was to take place, the blessing of the new posts for the Royal Elephant Kraal. In order to give some perspective you need to understand some history first--- (over 200 years ago) only Kings could support the making of an elephant trap or kraal which could hold up to 200 or so animals at a time. These elephants were herded from the plains and jungles by very experience mahouts to the location of the kraal. The wild elephants where assessed along the way to determine which fulfilled the criteria for best structure, strength, mood, determination, and intelligence. Those chosen would be domesticated and used for everyday functions from tree pulling to war machines. The Thai people were very conscious that the elephant had come from the wild and prayed for their harmonious assimilation into human society.
The high-level monks came to the kraal to bless the elephants and the mahouts that no harm will come to either and peace will remain between animal and man. Under each post you see in the pictures special items are placed which allowed the posted to be put into position, for it has been blessed.
Present day the kraal is used for special functions for the locals and foreign guests to view the elephants doing reenactments.
